Apparatus for temporarily attaching insoles

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for impaling a shoe insole on pins projecting from a last bottom including a shoe support which raises the forepart of a last with a registered insole thereon against a hammer which is actuated to drive the insole forepart against the last bottom. The support thereafter raises the heel end of the last against another hammer which drives the heel end of the insole against the last bottom.

United States Patent m Stapleton et a1. [45] Nov. 20, 1973 [54] APPARATUS FOR TEMPORARILY 3,417,416 12/1968 Isaacson et al 12 1 R ATTACHING [NSOLES 3,513,495 5/1970 Becka et al. l2/l R Inventors: Peter L. Stapleton, Evington; Ivor J. R. LeVesconte, Birstall, both of Leicester, England Assignee: USM Corporation, Boston, Mass. 7

Filed: Jan. 15, 1973 Appl. No.: 323,892

US. Cl 12/1 R Int. Cl A4311 00/00 Field of Search 12/1 R, 142 R References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS Reid et a1 12/1 R Primary ExaminerPatrick D. Lawson Attorney-Vincent A. White et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT 12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED NOV 2 0 I973 SHEET 1 BF 5 PATENTED NOV 20 I973 SHEET 3 BF 5 APPARATUS FOR TIEMPORARILY ATTACHING INSOLES BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to shoe manufacture. Particularly it is directed to positioning and securing an insole on a last bottom during the assembly of shoe parts on the last.

In an application for US. Pat. Ser. No. 191,372, filed Oct. 21, 1971 in the name of Peter L. Stapleton, there is described a method of making shoes in which pressure, specifically impact force, is applied to insoles placed against last bottoms so as to impale the insoles on locating pins provided in the last bottoms. Whether the pins are those which may be provided in the forepart of a last bottom and which cut an aperture in the insole in the form of a slot defining a tab, as described in said application, or those which may be provided in the heel portion of the last bottom and which may have a simpler straight, cutting edge, also as described in said application considerable force is required for the cutting edge of the pin to penetrate the insole adequately to retain it in position to withstand the subsequent handling stresses imposed during lasting operations.

Whereas a single blow from a hammer, accurately dealt by-an operator, might possibly result in adequate penetration of the insole by the locating pins, reliance on this time-consuming mode of operation would be uneconomical and would be very fatiguing for the operator when repeated many times throughout the course of a working day. Use of a simple power-driven hammer, against the operating head of which the operator would place the insole assembled on the last bottom, would undoubtedly result in an adequately secured insole but the operator would find the task of supporting the lasts and insoles against the blows imparted by the hammer fatiguing and uncomfortable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for applying impact force to an insole placed against a last bottom to impale the insole on a locating pin provided in the last bottom and capable of piercing the insole. The use of such a device minimizes strain on the operator and reduces the operators time spent on securing each insole to a last to an economically acceptable level. i

The invention provides, in accordance with one of its several features, a device suitable for temporarily securing insoles to bottoms of lasts by impaling the insoles on pins extending from the last bottoms. First means for applying impact force to one portion of an insole on the bottom ofa last is provided to impale that portion upon a pin extending from the last bottom and second means for applying impact force to a second portion of the insole is provided to imaple said second portion upon another pin extending from the last bottom. Supporting means are included for supporting the last, with insole located thereon, against the impact of said first and second means and means are provided for effecting relative movement between the last supporting means and the force applying means in such manner as to present the first portion of the insole to the first force applying means and then to present the second portion of the insole to the second of the force applying means. In accordance with one feature of the invention there is provided guide means arranged to be engaged by a toe end portion of the last and insole as they are presented to the device to assist in positioning the toe portions of the last and insole with respect to each other and to the first of the force applying means. To this end, the guide means comprises caliper-like gauge members arranged to be moved apart, against the action of resilient means, to equal extents when the toe end portion of the last is pushed between the gauge members. The construction and arrangement is such that the gauge members in their movements remain equidistant from a heightwise extending plane passing through a center line of the device so as to center the last and insole with the impact means.

According to another feature, the means for effecting relative movement between the last supporting means and the force applying means comprises means for moving the last supporting means in such a manner that it is moved to a first position in which a forepart portion of the insole is caused to engage the first force applying means and thereby to initiate action thereof and is then moved to a second position in which the heel seat portion of the insole is caused to engage the second force applying means and thereby to initiate action thereof. The last supporting means in moving from its first position to its second position is caused to swing about an axis extending widthwise of the last at a locality near the toe end thereof and in the plane of the insole.

According to a further feature, the last supporting means comprises a toe pad for supporting a toe portion of the last and a heel plate for supporting a heel portion of the last, the heel plate being provided with means for locating the heel portion of the last widthwise thereon. The heel supporting plate is adjustable lengthwise with respect to the toe pad to suit the last supporting means to support lasts of different sizes. In addition, the means for applying impact force to the insole comprise two pneumatically operated hammer percussive force to the insole comprise two pneumatically operated hammerr arrangements, the mounting for the hammer arrangements being preferably adjustable to operate upon insoles of different sizes.

In order that the above and other of the various objects of the invention, and the several features thereof, may become more clear there will now be given, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a detailed description of a device provided by and illustrative of the invention. It is, however, to be clearly understood that the illustrative device is selected for description by way of example of the invention only and not by way of limitation thereof.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation showing an illustrative device with a last supporting means thereof, prior to operation of first means for applying impact force to a forepart portion of an insole placed on the last, the position of the last and insole immediately after operation thereof being shown in chain-dotted lines;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the illustrative device immediately after operation of second means for applying impact force to a heel seat portion of an insole;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the last supporting means FIG. 4 is a view of the last supporting means viewed in the direction of arrow IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view, in front elevation, of first and second means for applying impact force to the insole, with parts broken away to reveal certain details of construction; and

FIG. 6 shows a view in section through the first means for applying imact force to the insole.

The illustrative device is suitable for use in preparation for shoe making operations, such as pulling over and lasting operations on shoe uppers, assembled on the lasts. The insoles are secured to the last bottoms by being impaled upon locating pins projecting from the last bottoms in a manner disclosed in said application Ser. No. l9l,372. The last L shown in FIG. 1 has a locating pin 2 projecting from the last bottom in a forepart region thereof, the pin 2 being like the pin 12 disclosed in said application.

A further locating pin projects from the last bottom in a heelward region thereof, the pin 4 being like one of the pins 6 disclosed in said application.

An insole I is placed upon the last bottom by an operator and is visually aligned with the outline of the last bottom. The last and insole are presented to the illustrative device in order that a forepart portion of the insole may be impaled upon the pin 2 by the action of a first means 82 for applying impact force to the forepart portion of the insole. A heelward portion of the insole may then be impaled upon the pin 4 by the action of second means 84 for applying impact force to the heelward portion of the insole. To avoid the need for the operator manually to support the last and insole against the blows delivered to the insole during the action of the force applying means 82, 84, the device is provided with last supporting means which comprises, as will be hereinafter described a toe pad 36 for supporting a toe portion of the last and a heel plate 50 for supporting the heel portion of the last, the heel plate being provided with means for positioning the heel part of the last widthwise thereon. A pneumatically operated piston and cylinder arrangement 49 (FIG. 3) is provided for raising the last supporting means, and thereby bringing about relative movement between the last (and insole) supported thereon and the force applying means 82, 84 in such manner as to present a first portion (viz. the forepart portion) of the insole to the first force applying means 82 and then to present a second portion (viz. the heel seat portion) of the insole to the second force applying means 84. As will be hereinafter described movement of the insole into contact with the force applying means initiates action of those means.

To aid the operator in locating the last L and insole I with respect to the first and second means for applying percussive force to the insole, there is provided guide means comprising calliper-like gauge members 6 (see also FIGS. 3 and 4) having shoe-contacting plates 8 arranged at an angle to each other (as best seen in FIG. 3). The plates are so positioned as to be engaged by opposite side portions of the toe end of a last as it is presented, with an insole thereon, to the device. As the operator pushes the last (with insole thereon) in a toeward direction into the device the plates 8 move yieldingly apart the gauge members 6 being caused to pivot about pivot pins 10 upstanding from a plate like bracket 20 secured to a frame portion 22 of the illustrative device. A link 12 is pivotally connected at opposite ends to the members 6, with one end being connected to one member at one side of the pivot point thereof and the other end being connected to the other member at the opposite side of its pivot point. This ensures that the plates 8 move to equal and opposite extents equidistant from the center line of the device and thus act to center the last. The link 12 is biased by a spring 14 so the plates 8 are urged together to a position determined by an adjustable stop screw 16 engaging a pin 18 depending from the link 12.

The last L is thus pushed between the gauge members 8 and urges them apart until the toe end of the last contacts an upstanding toe stop 26 also mounted on the bracket 20. Secured to the frame portion 22 is a member 28 which through parallel links 30, 30 carry a support member 32 for heightwise movement. An upper end of the support member is bifurcated at 33 pivotally to receive a support block 34 for the toe pad which supports the toe end of the last L.

Secured to opposite sides of the support member 32 and diverging upwardly therefrom are two arms 38 (FIG. 4) which form part of said last supporting means. Upper end portions of the arms 38 pivotally support a U-shaped bracket permitting movement of the bracket 40 about an axis at 39 at about the level of the forepart portion of the last bottom at a locality somewhat toewards of the pin 2 (as seen in FIG. 1). The U- shaped bracket 40 carries one end of an arm 42 provided with a stop bar 44 engageable with a surface 45 of the support member 32 as shown in FIG. 1. Springs 41 connected between the arms 38 and the arms of the bracket 40 urge the bracket clockwise (as viewed in FIG. 1).

The arm 42 extends heelwardly of the last as seen in FIG. 1 and is pivotally mounted on a head portion 46 of a piston rod 48 of the piston and cylinder arrangement 49. Mounted on a second end portion of the lever 42, for adjustment according to the size of last being operated upon, is a heel rest assembly also forming part of the lasting supporting means. The heel rest assembly includes the support plate 50 on which the heel end of the last rests. The plate has an upturned edge 52 against which the last may be located. The plate 50 is pivotally mounted in a bifurcated head 54 of an adjustment screw 56 which is slidably received in a bore extending heightwise through a block 58. The screw 56 and hence also the support plate 50 is restrained against rotation by a key 57 extending into a groove in the screw. A nut 59 threaded on to the stem portion of the screw 56 rests upon an upper face of the block 58 and provides for heightwise adjustment of the plate 50 to suit it to support lasts of different styles and/or sizes. The block 58 is mounted for lengthwise movement along the arm 42, adjustment means being provided to hold the block 58 in adjusted position with respect to the lever as required to cope with a range of shoe sizes. The adjustment means includes a slot 60 formed longitudinally in the arm 42, into which slot is received a bar 62. The bar 62 may be clamped in whatever position is desired within the length of the slot by means of a screw 64 in the arm 42 passing through a slot 66 in an extension 68 of the bar 62. The bar 62 is provided with two stop studs 70 and 72 between which the block 58 may be moved relatively to the bar 62 between two extreme positions. The bar is also provided with two depressions 74 and 76 which alternately receive a yieldable detent in the block 58 to hold the block against either stop 70 or 72. Thus when the bar 62 is moved to the left to the position shown in FIG. 2, the detent 78 may be engaged in either depression 74 or 76 so the distance between the toe support pad 36 and the plate 50 will accommodate a range of sizes of small lasts, such as womens lasts. By adjusting the bar 62 to the right the last supporting means may be set to cover a range of larger sizes of mens lasts.

FIG. shows the first and second means for applying impact force to the insole. Means are mounted in the device by means of an overhead hollow section bar 80 supported by a column (not shown). The first means, 82, is secured to the bar so as to depend therefrom at an angle of approximately from the vertical to accommodate the disposition of the forepart of the last. The second means 84 depends more nearly vertically, and means is provided for adjusting the distance between the insole-contacting hammer head 86 thereof and a similar hammer head 88 of the first force applying means. To this end, the bar 80 has secured thereto a block 90 having two parallel bores one above the other. The lower bore slidably receives a rod 92 and the upper bore is threaded to receive an adjusting screw 94 having a neck portion 96 held captive in a member 98 upstanding from one end of the rod 92. Rotation of screw 94 thus is effective to adjust the member 98 relative to the bar 80. A clamp means 102 is operable to clamp the rod 92 in the block 90 to fix the member 98 in adjusted position. Pivotally mounted at 99 upon the member 98 is a bifurcated head portion 100 of the second force applying means 84. Thus, adjustment of the screw 94 determines the initial position of the means 84 in the device relative to the means 92 as required by a run of'operations on large size lasts or on a range of small sizes. In addition, a small degree of adjustment is available by moving the means 84 about the pivot 99 within the confines of an annular retaining member 104 mounted upon struts 106 secured to the member 98. Retractable detents 108 are provided in the struts 106 and are spring-urged into one of two depressions 110 in a block mounted on the means 84 (as shown in FIG. 5).

The percussive force applying means 82 and 84 are generally similar to well known nail-inserting percussion tools such as are described in U. S. Pat. No. 2,875,730 except insofar as the nail-inserting parts are replaced by the hammer heads 86, 88 operable on contact from an insole support last. Both means 82 and 84 are substantially similar so that only one will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, the hammer head 88 is formed at a lower end of a stem 126 which is movable upwards within a sleeve 120 which has an internally projecting pin 122 received in a slot 124 extending lengthwise of the stem 126. Upward movement of the head 88 on engagement by an insole presented thereto, after a lost motion, causes upward movement of the sleeve 120 in which it is received in a bore of a lower casing member 128 in which the sleeve is held by an end cap 130. Prior to operation of the means 82, air is suppled through a line 132 to an annular space about a spool valve 134 and thence through a passage 136 (in an insert 156 in the lower casing member 128) to a chamber 138 under a floating piston 141) slidable in the upper end of the casing member 128. The member 128 is secured to an upper casing 142 having an upper end cap 144 which supports a tubular member 146 positioned concentrically within the upper casing member 142 to form an annular chamber 148. Slidably received within the member 146 is a piston 150 carrying a drive member 152 arranged to extend through apertures provided in a shock absorbing member 154, the floating piston 140, the insert 156 of the lower casing member 128 the valve 134 and to enter an aperture in an upper portion 158 of the sleeve member 120.

Air passes from the chamber 138 through a passage 160 in the piston 140 to a chamber 162 in the member 146 and under the piston 150. Ports 164 in the member 146 allow air to pass into the chamber 148 when the piston 150 is in an inoperative position as shown in FIG. 6 and thence through ports 166 to a chamber 168 above the piston 150. Chambers 138, 162, 148 and 168 are thus maintained under substantially equal pressure of compressed air until the sleeve is moved in the casing member 128. As the sleeve 120 rises, its upper end raises the valve 134 until a lower land cuts off the air passage 136 from the line 132 and connects the passage to exhaust through ports 170 and 172 of the upper portion 158 of the sleeve 120, and the lower casing member 128 respectively. Exhausting pressure from chamber 138 cause the floating piston to move down and thereby open ports 174 in the upper casing member 142 to exhaust pressure from the chamber 162. The compressed air remaining in chambers 168 and 148 acts to force the piston down in a driving stroke against the shock absorbing member 154 as the lower end of the drive member 152 strikes an upper surface 125 of the stem 126 to cause the hammer head 88 to deliver a blow to the insole portion engaged thereby.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 it will be seen that the upper casing member 142 is enclosed by a double-walled tubular silencer arrangement adapted to reduce the noise of exhausting air. An inner wall of the arrangement is provided with an annular series of holes 182 in an upper portion thereof and an outer wall 184 is provided with an annular series of holes 186 in a lower portion thereof. Air exhausting from the ports 174 is thus deflected up through an annular chamber formed between the member 142 and the inner wall 180 through the holes 182 and then deflected downwardly through an annular chamber which is packed with glass fibre material 188 and formed between the inner wall 180 and the outer wall 184, the air then making its exit through the holes 186.

The operation of the illustrative device will now be described. The last L is placed in the device, as shown in FIG. 1, the operator having positioned an insole in register on the last bottom and having fed the last, bottom up, between the gauge members 8 to force them apart until the toe stop 26 is contacted by the last. The gauge members also act to maintain the toe portion of the insole in correct register with the last as it is pushed between them. The toe end of the last is placed on the toe support pad 36 and the operator locates the heel end of the last on the support plate 50 and against the upturned edge 52 thereof. It will be understood that the position of the block 58 will have already been adjusted by the operator in accordance with the size of last being operated upon, as will the position of the second force applying means 84 in relation to the first means.

The operator then trips the machine and the piston and cylinder arrangement 49 lifts the arm 42, the bracket 40 and the toe pad. The last and insole are thus raised to a position in which the insole is shown in FIG. 1 in chain-dotted lines, raising the hammer head 88 to initiate operation of the force applying means 82 as described above to impale the insole I upon the pin 2 to form a C-shaped slot therein which defines a tab as described in said application above referred to. Continued upward movement of the piston rod 48 causes the bar 42 and the bracket 40 to swing about the pivotal mounting 39, the stop bar 44 moving out of contact with the surface 45. The heelward end of the last is thus moved about an axis extending widthwise of the last at about the level of the forepart portion of the last bottom in the vicinity of the toe so that the heelward portion of the insole is brought into contact with the hammer head 86 of the second force applying means 84 (as shown in FIG. 2), raising the hammer head to initiate operation of that force applying means to impale the heel seat portion of the insole onto the pin 4. The piston rod 48 then retracts and the parts return to their original position as shown in full lines in FIG. 1 and the last is removed from the device with its insole temporarily but firmly secured thereon.

It is to be understood that various substitutions of equivalent parts and mechanisms can be made to the above described illustrative apparatus without departing from the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for applying impact forces to shoe bottoms comprising means for applying localized impact forces, a support for a shoe including means for orienting the shoe bottom aligned with and facing the impact means, means for causing relative movement between the impact means and the support to bring the shoe bottom and the impact means into engagement, and means responsive to said engagement to operate the impact means to apply an impact force to the shoe bottom.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the orienting means includes yieldable members engaging opposite sides of the shoe for generally centering the shoe bottom with the impact means.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the support includes a toe support and a heel support, and yieldable members at opposite sides of the toe support for engaging opposite sides of the forepart of the shoe for generally centering the shoe forepart with the impact means and the toe support.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the heel support is provided with locating means engageable with at least one side of the heel end of the shoe for aligning the shoe bottom with the impact means.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the support includes a toe support and a heel support, and the impact means includes at least two hammers each arranged opposite one of said supports.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the relative movement causing means is arranged to engage and cause operation of one hammer first at the forepart of the shoe bottom and thereafter engage and cause operation of the other hammer at the heel end of the shoe bottom.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the spacing between the hammers and between the toe and heel supports are adjustable to accommodate shoes of different sizes.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the relative movement means includes means to move the shoe support bodily heightwise to cause an impact force to be applied first at the forepart of the shoe bottom and thereafter to swing the shoe support heightwise about an axis adjacent the toe end of the heel end of the shoe bottom to cause an impact force to be applied adjacent the heel end of the shoe bottom.

9. Apparatus for temporarily securing insoles on lasts by impaling the insoles on pins projecting from the last bottom at the forepart and the heel portion comprising, means for applying localized impact forces including spaced hammers, a support for a last including a toe pad and a heel support, means associated with the toe pad and the heel support for locating the last on the support so the last bottom and insole at the forepart and the heel portion is aligned with and facing said hammers, means for relatively moving the shoe support and the impact means to move the insole and hammers into engagement, and means responsive to said engagement to cause operation of the impact means for driving the insole onto said pins.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the locating means include yieldable members engaging opposite sides of the last and insole at the forepart for alignment with one of said hammers.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which said hammers are spaced apart a distance generally corresponding to the spacing of said pins and the toe pad and heel support generally underlie said hammers.

12. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the relatively moving means are adapted to move the support bodily heightwise to engage the forepart of the insole with one of said hammers to impale the forepart of the insole on one of said pins and thereafter to swing the support heightwise about an axis adjacent said one hammer to engage the heel portion of the insole with the other hammer to impale the insole on the other pin. t k 4 

1. Apparatus for applying impact forces to shoe bottoms comprising means for applying localized impact forces, a support for a shoe including means for orienting the shoe bottom aligned with and facing the impact means, means for causing relative movement between the impact means and the support to bring the shoe bottom and the impact means into engagement, and means responsive to said engagement to operate the impact means to apply an impact force to the shoe bottom.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the orienting means includes yieldable members engaging opposite sides of the shoe for generally centering the shoe bottom with the impact means.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the support includes a toe support and a heel support, and yieldable members at opposite sides of the toe support for engaging opposite sides of the forepart of the shoe for generally centering the shoe forepart with the impact means and the toe support.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the heel support is provided with locatiNg means engageable with at least one side of the heel end of the shoe for aligning the shoe bottom with the impact means.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the support includes a toe support and a heel support, and the impact means includes at least two hammers each arranged opposite one of said supports.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the relative movement causing means is arranged to engage and cause operation of one hammer first at the forepart of the shoe bottom and thereafter engage and cause operation of the other hammer at the heel end of the shoe bottom.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the spacing between the hammers and between the toe and heel supports are adjustable to accommodate shoes of different sizes.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the relative movement means includes means to move the shoe support bodily heightwise to cause an impact force to be applied first at the forepart of the shoe bottom and thereafter to swing the shoe support heightwise about an axis adjacent the toe end of the heel end of the shoe bottom to cause an impact force to be applied adjacent the heel end of the shoe bottom.
 9. Apparatus for temporarily securing insoles on lasts by impaling the insoles on pins projecting from the last bottom at the forepart and the heel portion comprising, means for applying localized impact forces including spaced hammers, a support for a last including a toe pad and a heel support, means associated with the toe pad and the heel support for locating the last on the support so the last bottom and insole at the forepart and the heel portion is aligned with and facing said hammers, means for relatively moving the shoe support and the impact means to move the insole and hammers into engagement, and means responsive to said engagement to cause operation of the impact means for driving the insole onto said pins.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the locating means include yieldable members engaging opposite sides of the last and insole at the forepart for alignment with one of said hammers.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which said hammers are spaced apart a distance generally corresponding to the spacing of said pins and the toe pad and heel support generally underlie said hammers.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the relatively moving means are adapted to move the support bodily heightwise to engage the forepart of the insole with one of said hammers to impale the forepart of the insole on one of said pins and thereafter to swing the support heightwise about an axis adjacent said one hammer to engage the heel portion of the insole with the other hammer to impale the insole on the other pin. 